The journey to Dorgu’s promising start

Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu has been a Manchester United player for only a matter of weeks but the early signs have been encouraging.

Before his arrival at the club, many Reds around the world wouldn’t have known a huge amount about the 20-year-old, who only made his debut in senior football last season, but the Denmark international has made a positive impression so far. 

One of four children, Patrick – who has a Christian middle name – is surrounded by a family who is religious but also embedded in sport, with two brothers who are footballers and a sister who plays handball.

Admittedly a Chelsea fan as a boy whose childhood idol was Eden Hazard, Patrick grew up in the Husum neighbourhood of Copenhagen to Nigerian parents who have always supported and encouraged their children’s education.

At just 12 years old, he joined the highly-regarded academy of FC Nordsjaelland – whose graduates include current Premier League stars Mohammed Kudus and Simon Adingra.

Like his brother Ifenna, Patrick was soon scouted by an Italian club himself, and Lecce moved him from their Under-19 team to the senior squad before the 2023/24 campaign.

Described in the past by Lecce’s director of football, Pantaleo Corvino, as having “the hallmarks of a champion”, he was soon showcasing his talents regularly on the Serie A stage.

One of Patrick’s biggest strengths is how comfortable he is occupying multiple positions and, earlier this season, he played in five different roles for Lecce – the three goals he scored came whilst operating from the right-wing berth.

Our no.13 also made a rapid entrance onto the international scene last September – when scoring on his senior Denmark debut with his first touch, just 42 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Switzerland.

The eighth player to represent the Reds from the Scandinavian nation, Patrick appeared as a late sub in Thursday’s win over Portugal – in which United team-mate Rasmus Hojlund scored the winner – and will hope to be more involved if he makes his fifth cap in the second leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-final in Lisbon.

Settling into new surroundings is always challenging, particularly for a young player and when making the move during the winter window, but he has adapted well so far, having arrived in M16 with the reputation of being one of the promising young defenders in the Italian top flight.

Ruben Amorim, who made Dorgu his second signing as head coach after Ayden Heaven, recently identified that key to settling in has been how much Patrick wants to be at the club and that desire has shone through in his performances so far.

His flexibility and versatility, as well as his physicality, could prove vital moving forward. He operated from right wing-back on his debut, impressing in the first half of our Emirates FA Cup victory over Leicester, and has since switched to left wing-back for his five subsequent appearances.

One of our better performers in the 2-2 draw at Everton, Dorgu arguably had his best game in a United shirt so far in the second leg of our Europa League last-16 tie with Real Sociedad. A willing runner all night long, he also showed a true sense of sportsmanship – which was hailed by Amorim afterwards – when gesturing to the referee who had awarded United a third penalty that he hadn’t been fouled by Hamari Traore and it was overturned by the VAR.

His performance also drew praise from many quarters, including The Athletic journalist Carl Anka who spoke to MUTV afterwards.

‘Dorgu was everywhere!’ Video

‘Dorgu was everywhere!’

Carl Anka, journalist from The Athletic, was hugely impressed by Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu…

He will undoubtedly be raring to go again in a United shirt, too, when we return to action away at Nottingham Forest on 1 April, after serving a three-match domestic ban following his red card against Ipswich – the only blot on his copybook so far.

With his contract running until at least 2030, it will be exciting for Reds across the globe to watch his continued development. Patrick undoubtedly has the attributes to make the specialist wing-back role his own in the years ahead.

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